Harley: “We battled hard”

Exeter City midfielder Ryan Harley was pleased with the fighting quality that the Grecians displayed in a 3-1 win away at Carlisle United.

The returning playmaker was at the double to twice put Exeter ahead, either side of an equalising volley from Steven Rigg, and the game was sealed late on by Liam Sercombe on the counter-attack.

The performance combined graft with quality and Harley was pleased that the Grecians could get back to winning ways in Cumbria.

“We battled hard – no game is easy and they still had chances,” he said. “They could have made it two-all – they didn’t have clear-cut chances, but they could have had a skinny header or a little touch, or a rebound might have fallen for them.

“So we held on well and the boys were really good. The two centre-halves were excellent again and made some decent tackles, and on another day we could have had some more goals.”

Harley had only made 43 Football League appearances between leaving the Grecians in 2011 and rejoining the club on loan back in November, and he admitted that he hadn’t been as much of a danger as he could be since his return.

Indeed he hadn’t found the net since coming back to the Park – his last goals from open-play for the Grecians came back in 2011 away at Carlisle – again netting a double in a 2-2 draw at Brunton Park.

He was pleased to be back amongst the goals and felt that he was beginning to benefit from playing regular football once again.

“I’ve scored a couple on the last two times that I’ve played here – and I enjoy it because it’s a nice big pitch,” he continued. “We always seem to do well here – maybe it suits our style a bit more.

“A goal’s a goal – I enjoy scoring goals for the club. I enjoy every one, no matter whether it’s a tap-in or a decent finish.

“I think I’ve been doing okay, but I’ve not been so much of a threat to the opposing goal. I’ve done okay but haven’t been having three or four shots a game and looking like I’m going to score.

“This is my first run of games in a couple of years where I’ve been featuring consistently, so it takes time. I’m feeling stronger and hopefully a few more goals will come. With a bit more fitness I can only play better and help the team.”